Painting With Light

Winter

January 19, 2010

“Winter Mailbox” © R.L. Herron

When you live in a northern climate, there are a lot of bad things about winter.

The worst part about this winter, from a photographic perspective, is the lack of snow (never thought I would say that).

They’ve even had snow in Florida this year and, as far south as Miami, have recorded the coldest January in ten years. We’ve had cold days and some snow, but we’re far behind our average. Not that I’m complaining.

February still has the potential to be brutal, and shoveling is not my favorite winter sport.

It’s warming up a bit this week. Not much. It’s above freezing and what snow we had is melting. That’s not a bad thing. It’s just beginning to look old and dirty outside. I guess the winter blahs have hit me.

So, I wish it would snow.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want as much as the picture above. Just enough to brighten the scenery, give it a fairy tale glow, and make venturing around the local parks and lakes with my camera worthwhile.

I also wish I had a client right now for whom I could do some design work or writing. I sometimes wish I had a place in Florida, too, where it’s supposed to be warm enough for shorts in January, even if it isn’t this year.

While I’m wishing, I wish there was more I could do for the unfortunate victims in Haiti. I wish we had world peace, too, but don’t worry, I’m not about to try twirling a baton for you (I’ll leave that to Sarah Palin).

I’ve never been one to stake my life on wishes. For better or worse, life must be taken as we find it. For the time being, I’m only thinking of doing more photography in the spring, while I snuggle warmly indoors with my lovely bride of almost forty years.

Now that I think about it, life could definitely be worse.

Posted in Lifestyle, Storytelling | 1 Comment »

Finding Relief

January 17, 2010

“Lake Sixteen Shoreline” © R.L. Herron

I find the picture above to be soothing, and soothing is something I needed this past week.

My heart goes out to the poor people of Haiti, struggling to survive after a devastating earthquake, the worst in 200 years, in the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

Somehow, as satisfying as it has been to hear the outpouring of worldwide concern, my mind keeps going back to one moment.

I found it appalling to hear the comments from the small-minded evangelical bigot who claimed the destruction was somehow deserved, because Haitian people had made a pact with the devil.

I won’t give him, or those who actually listen to this fool, the satisfaction of repeating his name here. He’s not worth it.

This was the same sorry excuse for a human being who claimed Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was heavenly retribution for a sinful New Orleans. It’s also the same asshole (I’m sorry, there is no other word I can use for him) who claimed similar reasons for the 9/11 attacks in New York City.

What Pure Bull****
He would do well to remember the “good book” he professes to follow that says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39).

In his deluded view of caring for his fellow man, he seems to have forgotten this admonition.

I hope everyone, regardless of their faith system, will remember that verse, and allow their empathy and concern for their fellow man to reach out with an offer of support.

Don’t let any such morally corrupt person sway your concern for men, women and children in dire need.

When you do send support, beware of the scammers who prey on concerned people at times like this. Use only legitimate groups you trust, such as the American Red Cross, Catholic Relief Services, or Doctors Without Borders.

Posted in Lifestyle, Non-Fiction Writing, Politics | 2 Comments »

Transitions

January 12, 2010

Just when you think you have things all figured out and your resolutions for the new year are made, something comes along that makes you re-think everything. Not just the resolutions, which are almost always made half in jest each year. But everything.

Tragedy
Yesterday morning was one of those ‘somethings’ here. Three young schoolgirls, all 14 years old and freshmen at a local high school, were killed in an auto accident on the way to school. They were less than a mile from my house.

No one was speeding. No one was drunk. No one was really at fault. The car in which they were riding, doing much less than the speed limit, just hit a patch of glare ice on a curve and careened into the path of a large SUV.

No more algebra tests. No more giggling over the cute boys. No whispers and laughter of any kind. Only silence, and the crunch of ice under the ambulance driver’s feet. All three girls were declared DOA at the local hospital.

Sobering reality, so close to home.

I didn’t know any of them, but I feel the loss. Not in the sense of what their poor parents and relatives are going through. But in knowing that all that potential, all that young optimism, is gone.

Bright light, like the sunlight in the picture above, always has a shadow. If we are fortunate, we don’t ever have to look that closely or that often into those dark places.